Announcing the Camera Grant Program 2.0 with OpenStreetMap US
Context
We launched the Camera Grant Program back in 2023 and made a great impact on improving street-level imagery coverage in the US. The program overall brought more than 10 million fresh street-level images to the US and helped the OpenStreetMap community improve and validate data through street-level imagery.
One of the top contributors among 2023 Camera Grant recipients, danbjoseph, contributed in Washington D.C.
Camera Grant recipient treestryder captured every street in Lansing, Michigan.
What's New in 2025?
We're excited to introduce several enhancements to the program this year:
- Organizational users welcome: In this round, organizations can apply for the program and become a camera grant recipient. This allows us to have broader community engagement and collaboration.
- GoPro MAX 2025 edition: We're providing the latest GoPro MAX cameras, which have long-lasting battery life to support extended mapping sessions, hyper-smooth video stabilization, and improved hardware performance.
- Sharing is caring: We encourage sharing cameras among users in the same city to maximize imagery contributions and foster community spirit.
- Stronger grantee community: We're building a community for our Camera Grant Program recipients to connect, share ideas and experiences, and exchange knowledge to support each other's success.
- More cameras: We are distributing 40 cameras this year to increase our reach and impact.
- OSM US x Mapillary swag pack: The grantees who upload imagery regularly within 3 months of grant award will receive a swag gift box.
Program Objectives
The Camera Grant Program 2.0 is designed to:
- Enhance Imagery Coverage: Increase the availability of high-quality 360º imagery in urban areas in the US cities.
- Foster Community Engagement: Encourage collaboration and shared usage of cameras among users and organizations by building a grantee community
- Support Open Geospatial Data: Contribute to the availability of open geospatial data through Mapillary and OpenStreetMap and supporting the mission of OpenStreetMap US.
What's included?
Each Camera Grant 2.0 kit will be containing following items:
- The 2025 GoPro MAX 360 camera
- Triple suction camera mount
- Selfie stick
- Tripod mount adaptor
- 256GB MicroSD card
Who Should Apply?
We invite applications from:
- Individuals and Organizations: Whether you're an individual contributor or part of an organization, you're welcome to apply.
- Experienced Mappers: Applicants with a history of contributing to Mapillary and a clear plan for using the imagery.
- Community Enthusiasts: Those passionate about improving OpenStreetMap data and willing to share cameras within their community.
How to Apply
Interested participants can apply by filling out this application form. Please note that cameras are limited, and selection will be based on past contributions and potential impact.
You can also scan this QR code to grab the form!
Thank You
This program is made possible by the dedicated efforts of the OpenStreetMap US and Mapillary teams. Special thanks to Edoardo Neerhut for setting up the foundation of the program, and to Alyssa Castronuovo and Maggie Cawley for their invaluable support.
AWe look forward to seeing the incredible contributions from our community and the impact of the Camera Grant Program 2.0.
Happy mapping!
/Said Turksever